Bearing assembly for a pipe machining apparatus

ABSTRACT

Pipe machining apparatuses and bearing assemblies are provided. In one aspect, a pipe machining apparatus includes a frame, a tool carrier, a first roller bearing and a second roller bearing. The tool carrier is coupled to and movable relative to the frame and defines a race therein. The first roller bearing includes a first shaft and a first roller rotatably coupled to the first shaft. The first roller is at least partially positioned in the race and is rotatable about a first roller bearing axis adapted to remain substantially fixed relative to the frame. The second roller bearing includes a second shaft and a second roller rotatably coupled to the second shaft. The second roller is at least partially positioned in the race and is rotatable about a second roller bearing axis. The second roller bearing is adjustable to move the second roller bearing axis relative to the frame.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of co-pending U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/796,211, filed Mar. 12,2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/709,531, filed Oct. 4, 2012, all of which are incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to pipe machining apparatusesand, more particularly, to pipe machining apparatuses for machininglarge diameter pipes.

BACKGROUND

A variety of different types of pipe machining apparatuses exist toperform various machining processes on pipes. One such process includescutting pipes. Large diameter pipes may be cut with a split frame pipemachining apparatus, which includes two frame halves that surround thepipe from respective sides and are fixedly coupled together around thepipe and fixedly coupled to the pipe. Such a pipe cutter includes a toolcarrier for supporting a tool or cutting device and the tool carrierencircles the pipe and moves toward the pipe in small increments duringthe cutting process in order to slowly cut into the pipe. Eventually,after many small increments of adjustment toward the pipe, the pipe willbe completely cut.

A bearing assembly comprising a plurality of roller bearings is disposedbetween the fixed frame and the rotatable tool carrier. Such rollerbearings undergo significant and various forces due to the numerousencirclements of the tool carrier relative to the frame, which canprovide a detrimental effect to the machining capability of the pipemachining apparatus or may prematurely wear the roller bearings or othercomponents of the pipe machining apparatus. In addition, these rollerbearings create chatter or unwanted vibrations during operation of thepipe machining apparatus.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a bearing assembly betweenthe fixed frame and the rotatable tool carrier that provides effectiveguidance of the tool carrier relative to the fixed frame duringoperation of a pipe machining apparatus, provides improved machiningcapability of the pipe machining apparatus, and inhibits chatter duringoperation.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is defined by the following claims, and nothingin this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims.

In one aspect, a pipe machining apparatus is provided and includes aframe, a tool carrier coupled to and movable relative to the frame, andthe tool carrier defines a race therein. The pipe machining apparatusalso includes a first roller bearing including a first shaft and a firstroller rotatably coupled to the first shaft, the first roller is atleast partially positioned in the race and is rotatable about a firstroller bearing axis adapted to remain substantially fixed relative tothe frame. The pipe machining apparatus further including a secondroller bearing including a second shaft and a second roller rotatablycoupled to the second shaft, the second roller is at least partiallypositioned in the race and is rotatable about a second roller bearingaxis, and the second roller bearing is adjustable to move the secondroller bearing axis relative to the frame.

In another aspect, a pipe machining apparatus is provided and includes aframe and a tool carrier coupled to and movable relative to the frame,the tool carrier defining a race therein. The race includes an interiorbearing surface including an indentation and an exterior bearing surfacethat is substantially flat. The pipe machining apparatus also includes afirst roller bearing including a first shaft and a first rollerrotatably coupled to the first shaft, the first roller is at leastpartially positioned in the race and engages the exterior bearingsurface. The pipe machining apparatus further includes a second rollerbearing including a second shaft and a second roller rotatably coupledto the second shaft, the second roller is at least partially positionedin the race and engages the interior bearing surface in the indentation.

In a further aspect, a bearing assembly for a pipe machining apparatusis provided. The bearing assembly includes a plurality of fixed rollerbearings with each fixed roller bearing including a first shaft and afirst roller rotatably coupled to the first shaft, the first roller isrotatable about a first roller bearing axis adapted to remainsubstantially fixed. The pipe machining apparatus also includes aplurality of adjustable roller bearings with each adjustable rollerbearing including a second shaft and a second roller rotatably coupledto the second shaft, the second roller is rotatable about a secondroller bearing axis adapted to move. The plurality of fixed rollerbearings and the plurality of adjustable roller bearings alternaterelative to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of an exemplary pipe machiningapparatus coupled to a pipe, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a bottom rear perspective view of the pipe machining apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the pipe machining apparatus illustrated inFIG. 1 with a portion thereof broken away to show internal components,including a portion of an exemplary bearing assembly, of the pipemachining apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is another front view of a portion of the pipe machiningapparatus with a portion thereof broken away to show a portion of thebearing assembly of the pipe machining apparatus, in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 5 is cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4, inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the pipe machiningapparatus shown in FIG. 2 with exemplary caps exploded from exemplaryrecesses defined in the pipe machining apparatus, in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a portion of the pipe machining apparatusshown in FIG. 2 showing two different types of exemplary rollerbearings, in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown one exemplary embodiment ofa pipe machining apparatus 20 adapted to machine pipes P of varyingdiameters. In some exemplary embodiments, the apparatus 20 completelycuts through pipes P. In other exemplary embodiments, the apparatus 20prepares an end of a pipe P for coupling to another pipe. In still otherexemplary embodiments, the apparatus 20 both completely cuts andprepares a pipe P for coupling to another pipe.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, pipe machining apparatus 20 isformed of two joined-together semicircular sections 24A, 24B andincludes a frame 28 and a tool carrier 32. The two sections 24A, 24Btogether comprise the frame 28 and the tool carrier 32 such that a firstportion of the frame 28 and a first portion of the tool carrier 32 areincluded in one section 24A and a second portion of the frame 28 and asecond portion of the tool carrier 32 are included in the other section24B. The frame 28 has a column 36 extending outwardly of the twosemicircular sections 24A, 24B and houses a pinion gear 40 adapted tocouple with a suitable drive motor 44, such as an air motor withsuitable gear reduction means. The frame 28 is adapted to couple and befixed relative to a pipe P, and the tool carrier 32 is rotatablerelative to the fixed frame 28 and the pipe P. The air motor 44 isadapted to rotate the tool carrier 32 relative to the frame 28 through agear train in the column 36. The tool carrier 32 has a circular gearrack 56 for meshing with the pinion gear 40 rotatably mounted in column36. The pinion gear 40 has an opening 60 provided with a polygonalperimeter for receiving a complementary shaped drive head 64 of drivemotor 44. Therefore, it can be seen that drive motor 44 is adapted torotate tool carrier 32 relative to the frame 28 through a gear trainprovided by pinion gear 40 in column 36 and circular gear rack 56 on thetool carrier 32.

The rotatable tool carrier 32 includes one or more tool supports 48 (twotool supports shown in the illustrated exemplary embodiment), whichsupport tools 52 for performing a cutting or machining operation on thepipe P as the tools 52 rotate circumferentially about the pipe P. Themachining operation performed by the tool(s) 52 may form a straight edgeperpendicular to a longitudinal extent of the pipe P, a bevel on an endof the pipe P that is transverse to the longitudinal extent of the pipeP and at an angle other than ninety degrees, or an edge of a pipe Phaving any angle.

The apparatus 20 further includes four adjustable clamp members orcoupling members 68 engageable with an exterior of the pipe P and havingsuitable adjustability to couple and concentrically locate the apparatus20 to the pipe P.

A plurality of projections 80 are adjustably movable into and out of apath of an advancement member 84 coupled to each tool support 48 toadvance the tool 52 toward the pipe P. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, the apparatus 20 includes a total of two projections 80 forengaging the advancement members 84, however, the apparatus 20 mayinclude any number of projections 80. Each projection 80 is coupled to alever 88 that may be actuated by a user to selectively move theprojection 80 into and out of the path of the advancement members 84.

With reference to FIGS. 3-7, tool carrier 32 is rotatably mounted on andsupported by frame 28 by a bearing assembly 70 including a plurality ofroller bearings 72. The roller bearings 72 ride in a circular bearingrace 76 defined in the interior of tool carrier 32. With particularreference to FIG. 5, the circular bearing race 76 includes anindentation or V-groove defined in an interior bearing surface 92 of therace 76 and a substantially flat exterior bearing surface 96. Only apair of small recesses 100 is defined in the exterior bearing surface 96of the race and encircle the entire exterior bearing surface 96 of therace 76 (described in more detail below).

The roller bearings 72 comprise two different types of roller bearings.A first type includes an adjustable roller bearing 72A journaled on ashaft 104 and rotatably adjustable in the frame 28. A second typeincludes a fixed roller bearing 72B journaled on a shaft 108 that is notadjustable in the frame 28. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, theroller bearings 72A, 72B are disposed around the pipe machiningapparatus 20 in an alternating manner (i.e., every other roller bearingis an adjustable roller bearing 72A). In other exemplary embodiments,the different types of roller bearings 72A, 72B may be disposed aroundthe apparatus 20 in any manner, combination, grouping, etc., and all ofsuch possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3-7, each adjustable roller bearing72A is individually adjustable to adjust a radial position of the rollerbearing 72A relative to the circular bearing race 76. Each adjustableroller bearing 72A includes a roller 112 and a shaft 104 with a threadeddistal end 116 and an enlarged head 120 at the opposite end. The shaft104 has an eccentric portion 124 immediately inside enlarged head 120.The roller 112 circumscribes eccentric portion 124 of shaft 104.Therefore, it can be understood that the radial position of each roller112 relative to bearing race 76 can be changed or adjusted in responseto rotational adjustment of shaft 104. Moreover, each roller 112 rotatesabout a roller axis 118 and it can be understood that the roller axis118 can be moved or adjusted relative to the frame 28 in response torotational adjustment of shaft 104.

To this end, roller 112 is sandwiched between enlarged head 120 of shaft104 and a bushing 128 which engages frame 28. The opposite end of shaft104 is provided with a tool engagement portion or, in the illustratedexemplary embodiment, a hexagonal socket 132 for receiving anappropriate wrench to rotate the shaft 104 and eccentric portion 124which is effective to adjust the radial position of roller bearing 72A.It can be seen that the threaded distal end 116, including socket 132,is positioned at and accessible from an exterior of the frame 28 tofacilitate adjustment of the roller bearings 72A from outside theapparatus 20.

In order to lock the adjustable roller bearings 72A in any position ofradial adjustment, a lock nut 136 is threaded onto distal end 116 ofshaft 104 over a washer 140. Once the shaft 104 is rotated by a wrenchto bring the respective roller 112 into desired engagement with bearingrace 76, nut 136 is tightened to lock the roller bearing 72A in theparticular radial position of adjustment. The lock nuts 136 and therespective distal ends 116 of the shafts 104 of the adjustable rollerbearings 72A are located in recesses 144 defined in frame 28, whichfacilitates adjustability of the roller bearings 72A from an exterior ofthe pipe machining apparatus 20 and eliminates the need to disassemblethe pipe machining apparatus 20 (e.g., disassemble the fixed frame 28and the tool carrier 32) in order to adjust the roller bearings 72A.Caps 148 are positionable in all of the recesses 144 to close off andprotect the recesses 144, the lock nuts 136, and the threaded ends 116of the shafts 104 when adjustability is not desired. The caps 148 may becoupled to the frame 28 in the recesses 144 in any manner such as, forexample, press-fit, threaded, detented, or any other manner.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each roller 112 includes anouter circular bearing part 152 and an inner hub 156 (see FIG. 7). Outerbearing part 152 is freely rotatable about hub 156 by means of ballbearings. The outer bearing part 152 includes a V-shaped configurationincluding two angled engagement portions 160 for engaging acomplementary shaped V-groove defined in the interior engagement surface92 of the race 76. The V-shaped outer bearing part 152 provides dualline contact between the roller 112 and the race 76 with the two linesof engagement angled and non-parallel to each other. In the illustratedexemplary embodiment, both lines of contact are transverse to arotational axis 164 of the tool carrier 32. In some exemplaryembodiments, both lines of contact may be orientated at about a 45degree angle relative to the rotational axis 164 of the tool carrier 32.In other exemplary embodiments, the lines of contact may be at any anglerelative to the rotational axis 164 of the tool carrier 32 includingparallel.

The hub 156 is press-fit over eccentric portion 124 of shaft 104 and ispositioned between enlarged head 120 and bushing 128 when the bearing72A is locked in a given position, while outer bearing part 152 is freeto rotate and ride along the interior bearing surface 92 of the bearingrace 76. The roller 112 and the bearing race 76 are appropriately sizedto inhibit the roller 112 of the adjustable bearing 72A from engagingthe exterior bearing surface 96 of the bearing race 76. To assist withinhibiting engagement, the exterior bearing surface 96 defines the pairof recesses 100 therein that encircle the entire race 76. The pair ofrecesses 100 align with the two furthest projecting portions of theV-rollers 112 of the adjustable roller bearings 72A such that theV-rollers 112 do not contact the exterior engagement surface 96 of therace 76.

The adjustable roller bearings 72A are also adapted to provide a preloadbetween the adjustable roller bearings 72A and the fixed roller bearings72B during assembly of the apparatus 20. When assembling the apparatus20, the adjustable roller bearings 72A are adjusted or moved intocontact with the interior bearing surface 92 of the race 76 resulting ina force applied by the adjustable roller bearings 72A, thereby forcingthe fixed roller bearings 72B into engagement with the exterior bearingsurface 96 to establish a preload between the adjustable roller bearings72A and the fixed roller bearings 72B.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3-7, the fixed roller bearings 72B arenot adjustable relative to the frame 28. Each fixed roller bearing 72Bincludes a roller 168 and a shaft 108 with a threaded distal end 172 andan enlarged head 176 at the opposite end. The shaft 108 has a concentricportion 180 immediately inside enlarged head 176 and the roller 168circumscribes the concentric portion 180 of shaft 108. The roller 168 issandwiched between the enlarged head 176 and a washer 184 engaging theframe 28. The threaded distal end 172 of the shaft 108 is threaded intoan internally threaded cavity 188 defined in the frame 28 to secure thefixed roller bearing 72B relative to the frame 28. The roller 168rotates about a roller axis 170 and, since the roller bearing 72B isfixed relative to the frame 28, the roller axis 170 is fixed and doesnot move relative to the frame 28.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each roller 168 includes anouter circular bearing part 192 and an inner hub 196. Outer bearing part192 is freely rotatable about hub 196 by means of ball bearings. Theouter bearing part 192 includes a substantially flat engagement portion200 for engaging the substantially flat exterior engagement surface 96of the race 76. The substantially flat engagement portion 200 provides asingle line contact between the roller 168 and the exterior race 76. Inthe illustrated exemplary embodiment, the single line contact issubstantially parallel to the rotational axis 164 of the tool carrier32. Alternatively, the single line contact may be transverse to therotational axis 164 of the tool carrier 32.

The hub 196 is press-fit over concentric portion 180 of shaft 108 and ispositioned between enlarged head 176 and washer 184, while outer bearingpart 192 is free to rotate and ride along the exterior bearing surface96 of the bearing race 76. The roller 168 and the bearing race 76 areappropriately sized to inhibit the roller 168 of the fixed bearing 72Bfrom engaging the interior bearing surface 92 of the bearing race 76.The fixed bearings 72B provides radial support to the tool carrier 32,assist with establishing location of the tool carrier 32, and assistswith proper engagement and backlash of the drive pinion gear 40 to thegear rack 56.

During operation of the pipe machining apparatus 20, the tool 52 appliesa machining force to a pipe P, which may result in outward radial forcesand axial forces on the tool support(s) 48 and the tool carrier 32.These machining forces result in forcing the interior engagement surface92 of the race 76 more into or against the roller 112 of the adjustableroller bearing 72A, which ensures a reliable and adequate radialengagement between the roller bearing 72A and the race 76. Additionally,these machining forces may result in forcing the tool carrier 32 in anaxial direction, which results in forcing the interior engagementsurface 92 of the race 76 into or against the two lines of contactprovided by the two angled engagement portions 160 of the roller bearing72A. These features of the roller bearings 72A assist with maintainingproper operation and movement of the tool carrier 32 relative to thefixed frame 28, and additionally may assist with reducing chatter duringoperation of the pipe machining apparatus 20. Thus, the roller bearings72A provide both radial and axial support during the machining operationof the pipe cutting apparatus 20.

Conventional pipe machining apparatuses operate in a different manner.Particularly, conventional pipe machining apparatuses include rollerbearings within a race, however, a machining force realized by a toolmachining a pipe forces the interior engagement surface of the race awayfrom the roller bearings, thereby providing a looser, less reliable, andpotentially inadequate engagement between the roller bearing and therace.

The Abstract of the disclosure is provided to allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claimsare hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

While various embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodimentsand implementations are possible within the scope of the disclosure.Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be restricted except in light ofthe attached claims and their equivalents.

1. A pipe machining apparatus comprising: a frame; a tool carriercoupled to and movable relative to the frame, the tool carrier defininga race therein, wherein the race includes an interior bearing surfaceincluding an indentation, and an exterior bearing surface that issubstantially flat; a first roller bearing including a first shaft and afirst roller rotatably coupled to the first shaft, wherein the firstroller is at least partially positioned in the race and engages theexterior bearing surface; and a second roller bearing including a secondshaft and a second roller rotatably coupled to the second shaft, whereinthe second roller is at least partially positioned in the race andengages the interior bearing surface in the indentation.
 2. The pipemachining apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first roller includes asubstantially flat outer part adapted to engage the exterior bearingsurface along a single line of contact, and wherein the second rollerincludes two angled engagement portions positionable in the indentationand adapted to engage the interior bearing surface along two lines ofcontact.
 3. The pipe machining apparatus of claim 2, wherein the singleline of contact between the first roller and the exterior bearingsurface is substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the toolcarrier, and wherein the two lines of contact between the second rollerand the interior bearing surface are transverse to the rotational axisof the tool carrier.
 4. The pipe machining apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe first roller engages the exterior bearing surface and not theinterior bearing surface, and wherein the second roller engages theinterior bearing surface and not the exterior bearing surface.
 5. Thepipe machining apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first roller rotatesabout a first roller axis and the second roller rotates about a secondroller axis, and wherein the first roller axis remains substantiallyfixed relative to the frame and the second roller axis is movablerelative to the frame.
 6. The pipe machining apparatus of claim 1,wherein the pipe machining apparatus is a split frame pipe machiningapparatus including two sections adapted to couple to one another arounda pipe, wherein a first of the two sections includes a first portion ofthe frame and a first portion of the tool carrier and a second of thetwo sections includes a second portion of the frame and a second portionof the tool carrier.
 7. A bearing assembly for a pipe machiningapparatus, the bearing assembly comprising: a plurality of fixed rollerbearings with each fixed roller bearing including a first shaft and afirst roller rotatably coupled to the first shaft, wherein the firstroller is rotatable about a first roller bearing axis adapted to remainsubstantially fixed; and a plurality of adjustable roller bearings witheach adjustable roller bearing including a second shaft and a secondroller rotatably coupled to the second shaft, wherein the second rolleris rotatable about a second roller bearing axis adapted to move; whereinthe plurality of fixed roller bearings and the plurality of adjustableroller bearings alternate relative to each other.
 8. The bearingassembly of claim 7, wherein each of the second shafts of the pluralityof adjustable roller bearings includes an eccentric portion about whichthe second roller is coupled, and wherein each of the second shafts isrotatable to move the second roller bearing axis.
 9. The bearingassembly of claim 8, wherein each of the second shafts of the pluralityof adjustable roller bearings includes a tool engagement portion on anend thereof to facilitate rotation of the second shafts.
 10. The bearingassembly of claim 7, wherein each of the first rollers includes a firstinner hub and a first outer part rotatable about the first inner hubwith the first outer part including a substantially flat engagementsurface, and wherein each of the second rollers includes a second innerhub and a second outer part rotatable about the second inner hub withthe second outer part including two angled engagement surfaces.
 11. Thebearing assembly of claim 10, wherein the substantially flat engagementsurfaces of the first rollers are substantially parallel to a rotationalaxis of the pipe machining apparatus, and wherein the two angledengagement surfaces of the second rollers are transverse to therotational axis of the pipe machining apparatus.